PAWS Humane Society Happenings

Jester, Jax and Starr are kittens that came from a farm in Davis Junction. There were many kittens and cats there, several which were killed by coyotes. The owners of the farm agreed to give the kittens to PAWS so that the kittens could have a chance at life. Unfortunately for Jester, an orange marbled and white 10-week-old boy, his eye was badly damaged when he came to us. He was approved to be taken in by PAWS despite the possible expense of having his eye taken care of. It was a great decision because this kitten had a loving, happy and silly personality that was the very essence of happiness. Jester had surgery July 9 to remove what was left of the eye and suture it closed. Even after surgery, he purred anytime someone talked to him or held him. Jester looked awful after surgery but kept a great attitude through the pain and IV.

Later that night, PAWS received a phone call from Denise at Hillcrest. PAWS thought the worst, that Jester had somehow died. Instead, Denise told PAWS that
she had to have my kitten.

She had been holding him all night while Jester purred with his IV in, and Denise had fallen in love with him! Recently, Denise’s own one-eyed cat had died. What a great ending to a story, uniting a kitten with an owner who could love him as he was, and an owner with a kitten that really needed her.

By choosing to invest the money for this surgery, PAWS was able to find a difficult-to-adopt kitten a home that was meant to be, with an owner who was meant to find Jester. This is what PAWS is supposed to be about—giving animals in tough circumstances a chance to live a happy and healthy life. PAWS is not about saving money for
someday.

It’s about compassion and doing what’s right. Some may have put an end to little Jester’s life just because he had one eye and would require an expensive surgery.

Thanks to Hillcrest and Denise, the surgery that was going to be at half the usual price was totally waived. So, not only did Hillcrest perform the surgery for free, but they found Jester a home. A happy ending.

Pennies For Pooches

The PFP program is a fun way for kids to help raise money for local animals in need. It gives them a feeling of helping their community. PAWS has many empty water bottles that the kids can decorate and place in their classroom to donate all their loose change; some even have challenges as which class can raise the most.

Monies raised help with medical needs with some of PAWS’s adoptable animals, such as
Tanner

who went to them with a broken leg, doctors fixed it, pennies raised from the kids helped pay for it, and he was adopted!

It may only be a
penny

to you, but to an animal, it may mean the world!

Keep saving those pennies!

If you are interested in PAWS’s PFP program, call PAWS at 815-749-1400 or e-mail info@paws.org.

Moving tips—settling into a new home with your pet

New situations can be stressful for your pet. Some pets adjust almost instantly, while others may require a little time. Be patient, encouraging, and positive about your new home to help your pet adjust more quickly.

Try to keep a familiar routine. Use the same bowls, feed the same food at the same time, place litter boxes in similar locations, and so on. Make things seem
normal.

Research local regulations. Where do you get a dog license, and how much are they? Are cats required to be licensed? Are dogs allowed to be off-leash in certain areas, and if so, where?

Keep in mind that some cities or towns have bylaws stating how many pets a person is permitted to have in their home. If you have a lot of pets, make sure you find out before you move what these regulations are.

Find out where the local
doggy hangouts

are. Walking trails or parks, off-leash areas, and so on.

If you haven’t already done so, teach your kitty to be an indoor cat. Cats lead longer, happy lives indoors where they don’t have to worry about getting hit by cars, attacked by other animals or people, catching a disease and many other threats. Give kitty lots of stimulation indoors with the use of toys, window perches, cat condos/trees, etc.

Scout out a vet. Find one that both you and your pet are comfortable with, and make sure you know the way to the clinic. If your chosen clinic is not an emergency clinic, it’s also a good idea to find a 24-hour clinic—just in case.

Assess the
pet-safety-ness

of your new home. You may have set up your previous home in such a way that your pet couldn’t get at stuff like cleaners or poisonous plants. Take a walk around your new home and watch where your pet investigates. Make sure you store dangerous items out of his reach.

Keep all your pet’s documentation together and easily accessible. A folder with vaccination records, spay/neuter certificate, and other important papers should be kept together for future reference. Your new vet may ask to see them.

Set up an evacuation plan. Sometimes we have no choice but to evacuate from our homes. Do not leave your pets behind! Have a plan to get both them and yourself out safely. Keep a list of nearby pet-friendly accommodations handy.

Kibble Korner

Kibble Korner Pet Food Pantry is available to Winnebago County residents struggling to keep pets fed because of the economy. Applications to use Kibble Korner are available at Rock River Valley Food Pantry. Clients are eligible to pick up food once each month.

Kibble Korner is in dire need of donations. If you would like to make a donation, you may drop off food and cat litter at: